The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa

“I saw in his hands, a large golden arrow and at the end of the iron tip there appeared to be a little fire. It seemed to me this angel plunged the arrow several times into my heart and that it reached deep within me. When he drew it out, I thought he was carrying off with him the deepest part of me; and he left me all on fire with the great love of God. The pain was so great that it made me moan, and the sweetness this greatest pain caused me was so superabundant that there is no desire capable of taking it away.”






















French cardinal upon seeing the sculpture: "If that is divine love, I know it well."

(Autobiography) Teresa of Avila, 1560
(Sculpture) Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1645

contra

sharpie, ballpoint, hi-lighter, pencil

a bit suggestive for workplace doodling
perhaps

i started to write contrapposto -
classical term for human posture
in greek and rennaisance sculpture

contrast and opposition ended up
seeming more relevant

to the subject matter








click image for hi-res

The Garden of Earthly Delights

"The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Dutch artist Hieronymus Bosch (painted c. 1500) is an oil tryptich portraying the creation of the earth, its population by humans, and their subsequent descent into hell.

What a world.












Check out these sweet action figures from hell:

i·con·o·clast - noun

1. Breaker or destroyer of images, especially those set up for religious veneration.
   
2. Person who attacks cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, etc., as being based on error or superstition.
   

August 17th

Eminence Front

Yes, ABC.

Watching the British Open yesterday reminded me that PGA coverage varies by network. Features and commentary are different (CBS has Faherty), but what sets ABC in an eschelon above is their use of sweet musical tracks in the program (CBS has theme music by Yanni).

I remember a few years ago - just getting into golf - watching the leaderboard before commercials set to cuts from old classics and brand new releases (Beatles, Zeppelin, Tears for Fears, The Killers - anything between).

Yesterday's coverage included a heady segment of the instrumental intro to The Who's "Eminence Front" during the super-slow-motion swing vision shots. Yes!

"how'bout that drummer!"

stumbled across mutemath playing typical on the lateshow last night



great performance :: letterman loved it

p.s. - so did john mayer :: check out his blog

and quietly gets swallowed by a wave

the decemberists live @ the mann music center -- philadelphia, pa
with the mann festival orchestra -- sunday, july 15th 8:00pm














The band's performance was more exuberent at the Tower Theater in March. And the set was short - played for 90 minutes only. However, waves of crecendo from the full orchestra during a selection of songs was very cool, a different kind of concert experience - accentuated by the al fresco ambiance.

The real star of the evening was the venue. the Mann Center for performing arts is an essential place - a node of interest with space designed for human use and interaction. The architecture is simple and modern, but organic with a hint of whimsy (duck). Interior space is cavelike - formed by a shell stretched over a shallow amphitheatre which housed a large balcony as well.

Like a concert in a clamshell.










Regretably, the price for shows at the Mann can be prohibitively expensive (as anything good should be, right?) ticket $60, parking $10, two cocktails $15. Travestied juxtapostion (or is it imposition) of commerce and art. A shame that great places like this require currents of cash to keep them afloat.